Inner-spring unit assembly machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 29, 1944 lw o 4, f m.

Zfix 5 3a A H. T. GROVES INNER-SPRING UNIT ASSEMBLY MACHINE May 13, 1947.

- Filed Feb. 29, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 S H W R O 0 T T m G I 5 1 n W m H M a a. 4 .J Y B 5 a 9 a a v 0 6 m J 1 7 C 8 7 J Fa. 0 8 a 2 s a n m 2 a /B Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE INNER-SPRING UNIT ASSEIVEELY MACHINE Henry '1. Groves, Sacramento, Calif.

Application February 29, 1944, Serial No. 524,380

Claims.

This invention relates to a spring assembly machine or jig, and particularly to one usable in connection with the helical spiral spring assembly such as are used in inner-spring mattresses and the like. Such springs are disposed in adjacent rows with their endmost turns overlapping slightly, and the turns of all the spring in the adjacent rows are then coupled together by a relatively small-diameter continuous helical spring.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a machine or jig to facilitate this assembling operation, and which forms a retaining and locating means for the rows of springs, to hold them in proper overlapping position; and a guide for the coupling spring arranged so that such spring may be readily engaged with the rows of springs upon rotation of the coupling spring.

Assembling of the springs into unitary relation is thus greatly facilitated over the present practice.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improved J g.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same, partly broken away, to show the coupling spring as being advanced and engaged with the overlapping springs.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary typical cross section showing the upper slidable spring locatin unit in an operative position and with the cap of the coupling spring locating and guide block removed.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of the jig showing the spring retaining and locating units as in operation.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the jig comprises a pair of vertical end frames I coupled by suitable longitudinal members 2 at the sides. The end frames are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to receive a complete row of springs therebetween.

Extending the full distance between the end frames are the upper and lower spring retaining and locating units, the upper unit being slidable vertically in the frame and the lower unit being secured in a rigid position on said frame. The upper unit comprises a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending beams 3 slidably guided in a suitable manner in the end frames. These beams are connected at predetermined spaced intervals by cross bars 4 which extend under said beams. The adjacent faces of the bars are spaced apart and curved to conform to the curvature of the topmost turn of the coils of the springs S, as at 5, and the width of the bars at the point of closest approach of their opposed curved faces is the same as the desired spacing between the springs S.

Centrally between the beams 3 a locating and guide block for the helical coupling springs C is rigidly supported from the bars 4. This block comprises a top section 6 and a lower cap section I slidably engaging the section B and removable in a lengthwise direction; being maintained in position by suitable guide elements 8.

The under side of the section B is formed with grooves 9 to a certain depth and which are continuations of the curved faces 5 of the corresponding bars, as shown in Fig. 2; the grooves on opposite sides of said section 6 being different depths, as shown in Figs, 3 and 4, to allow for the overlap of the opposed pairs of springs S, and the curves of the opposed grooves in the block section thus intersecting or overlapping each other. The shallowest groove 9 is as deep as the diameter of the wire of the spring S, while the opposite groove is approximately twice that depth. The cap 1, however, is ungrooved on its upper face. Both sections of the block are formed with a circular bore Ill slightly larger in diameter than the spring C, and whose center is on a level between the two overlapping springs and centrally of such over-lap.

Laterally out from the beams 3 on a somewhat lower level are laterally shiftable beams I supported from the beams 3 for vertical movement therewith by suitable brackets l2 projecting from said beams 3. Tension springs l3 between the corresponding beams 3 and H urge the latter toward each other. The spring between the inner face of each beam H and the center of the bore It), when said face is adjacent the beam 3, is slightly less than the diameter of the top turn of the spring S.

To hold the beams ll spread against the resistance of the springs 13, when desired, I provide a longitudinal shaft l4 journaled in connection with and above the block section "6 and provided at one end with an operating handle I5.

Opposed cams [6 on said shaft at intervals engage suitably shaped elements I! formed on the adjacent ends of lateral arms I8 which at their outer ends are connected to straps l9 slidably overhanging the beams 3 and connected to the beams ll. When the cams are horizontal, the arms and beams II are spread apart or separated, as shown in Fig. 3; and when vertically disposed, as shown in Fig. 4, the springs 13 can act to pull the beams ll toward each other.

The lower fixed spring retaining and locating unit is identical with that above described, except that it is stationary and that the parts are reversed in their relative positions. Said lower unit thus comprises longitudinal beams 3a, concavely curved cross bars 4a, a centrally bored coupling spring retaining blockunit comprising a lower fixed section 6a and a top removable cap section la; shiftable beams Ila and pull springs Illa acting thereon; a control cam shaft Ma under the section 611; and actuating arms lSa shifted by the cams ltd on said shaft.

The spring retaining and locating units, when in operation, are spaced apart a considerably greater distance than the height of the springs S inorder to enable suchsprings to be initially disposed in position on the lower retaining unit. In order to normally hold the upper unit raised and to enable the same to be lowered so as to compress the springs S somewhat I provide the following arrangement:

A shaft 20 is journaled in the end frames below the lower spring retaining unit and has upstanding arms El fixed on its ends. Links 22 and 23 connect the arms and the ends of shaft M; the link 23 being of yoke-like form, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to not obstruct the removal of the blocl: caps l and la from said end, or the insertion of the coupling springs C. The arm 2| at the end of the machine opposite the link 23 is extended to form an operating hand1e'2 3.

When the upper unit is raised to. its topmost position the arms 2! are disposed beyond deadenter position, and a stop 25 on one end of the frame then engages one arm to prevent .further turning of the arms beyond such position. The turning of the arms'in the opposite direction lowers the upper unit, as will be evident, the extent oflowering movement possible being sufficient todispose the upper unit somewhat closer to thelower unit than the normal height of the springs S. The handle 24 may then be held against retracting movement ofthe upper spring retaining unit by a suitable latch, such as indicated at 26.

In operation the upper unit is initially disposed in its topmost position, the bars H and Ila are held separated, and the caps land la are removed. The initially separate'springs S are then arranged in position between the various cross bars to and in overlapping relation in the lower block Ea. The lower cap la may then beslid into place, covering the overlapping portion of the springs. The upper unit is then lowered by manipulation of the handle 24;, as previously described, which causes the upper turns ,of the springs to become seated between the cross bars 4 and in the grooves 9 of the upper block 5. The upper cap I is then slid into place. The cam controlled handles I and E511 are then turned to allow the bars H and Ila tomove inwardly, engaging the springs and causing them to properly seat in the block grooves so as to assure the necessary overlap. The springs C are then advanced in turn through the bores l8: and

Isa while being rotated, which causes them to move along a definite path, and in doing so to thread themselves in the usual manner about the overlapping portions of the springs.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A jig to facilitate assembling and coupling of initially separate mattress springs, said jig comprising a frame structure, units on said structure to locate and support a pair of rows. of initially separate springs in predetermined spaced relation and with the endmost turnsof corresponding springs of the rows overlapping, and block units extending along and centrally between the rows of springs and grooved from 0pposite sides to receive and locate the overlapping portions of the springs, said block units being bored lengthwise to receive and guide a helical spring into coupling relation with the overlapping turns of the springs; said block unit being rigid with the spring locating units.

2. A jig to facilitate assembling and coupling of initially separate mattress springs, said jig comprising aframe structure, units on said structure to locate and support a pair of rows of initially separate springs in predetermined spaced relation and with the endmost turns of corresponding springs of the rows overlapping, and block units extending along and centrally between the rows of springs and grooved from opposite sides to receive and locate the overlapping portions of the springs, said block units being bored lengthwise to receive and guide a helical spring into coupling relation with the overlapping turns of the springs; each block unit comprising a member fixed with the corresponding spring locating unit and a removable cap, the cap facing the opposite end of the springs; the grooving for the overlapping portions of the springs being solely in said fixed member of the block unit.

3. A jig as in claim 1, with means included with the spring locating units to engage and press the endmost turns of the springs laterally toward each other whereby to maintain the overlapping portions of the springs against lateral displacement.

4. A jig to facilitate assembling and coupling of initially separate mattress springs,- said jig comprising a frame structure, units on said structure to locate and support a pair of rows of initially separate springs in predtermined spaced relation and with the endmost turns of corresponding springs of the row overlapping, each unit comprising a pair of parallel bars extending lengthwise of and adapted to overlie and engage the springs of each row,'other bars laterally out from the first named bars on a. level to engage the side edges of the endmost turns of the springs, means tending to yieldably move-the last named bars laterally outward against the resistance of the yieldable means, and elements included with the units to guide a helical springinto coupling relation with the overlapping ends'of the springs.

5. A jig to facilitate the assembling and coupling of initially separate mattress springs, such jig comprising a frame, cross bars spaced apart in parallel relation in the frame, opposed faces of the bars being spaced pairs of grooves of semicircular shape conforming to the curvature of and adapted to receive and hold the outermost coils of the springs to be coupled together, a block extending transversely of the bars between the rows of grooves thereof, such block being rigid with said bars and provided with semi-circular grooves forming continuations of the semi-circular grooves in the bars, the block also being provided with a semi-circular longitudinal bore Opening to said grooves, a second block adapted to be brought into face relation with the first block and provided with a longitudinal semi-circular bore which registers with the bore in the first block when the two blocks are in face to face relation.

6. A device as in claim 5 in which one half of each groove in the first named block is twice the depth of the other half.

7. A structure as in claim 5 including beams disposed transversely along the outer ends of the bars, and means to selectively move the beams toward and away from the bars.

8. A structure as in claim 5 including beams disposed transversely along the outer ends of the bars, and means to selectively move the beams toward and away from the bars, such means comprising tension springs between the frame and beams normally holding the beams against the end of the bars, arms projecting from the beams and disposed in end to end relation and cams between the ends of the arms operable to push the arms apart and hence move the beams away from the ends of the arms and place the springs under tension.

9. A jig to facilitate assembling and coupling of initially separate mattress springs, said jig comprising end frames, upper and lower sprin retaining and locating units disposed in the frame, one unit being fixed relative to the frame,

the other unit being mounted on members moveable through guides in the frame, and means to move said members to carry the unit mounted thereto toward and from the fixed unit, said means including a shaft on the moveable unit, a shaft on the frame below the fixed unit, upstanding arms on the frame shaft, links connecting the arms and the unit shaft, and an operating handle on one of said arms, said handle being operable to turn said arms on the frame shaft and cause the links to pull the moveable unit toward the fixed unit or vice versa.

10. A device as in claim 9, including a hook on the frame engageable with the handle to hold the moveable unit in lowered position.

HENRY 'r. onovns.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,012,904 Bowersox Aug. 27, 1935 1,921,319 Murnane et a1. Aug, 8, 1933 1,905,459 Gail Apr. 25, 1933 1,930,715 Heuer Oct. 17, 1933 1,473,989 Holtfoth Nov. 13, 1923 1,864,216 Poyner June 21, 1932 

